How to Choose a Fireplace Grate

Who would have thought a fireplace grate could have so many options?
With our large selection believe us when we tell you that anyone could get confused
if you didn't know what you were looking for. Here we will try to answer any
questions you may have as well as inform you about the different types of fireplace
grates, why you should use a grate, and how to get the most out of your fireplace
grate.

Why do I need a fireplace grate?

Better quality burn - The wood is lifted off of the floor
allowing air to be pulled in from underneath the wood, your fire will be supercharged
with air making it hotter and more efficient.

More complete burn - Burned pieces of wood fall to the fireplace
floor through the spaces in the grate creating a bed of super hot coals. This
allows the wood above to be burned from the bottom up so you don't need
to adjust and move the wood once placed on the grate.

Protection of your fireplace floor - The grate keeps the
real heat up off the floor protecting your concrete from the extreme heat of
the fire. This will add life to your fireplace.

Better drafting - When you lift the fire off of the floor
you do two things, lift the fire closer to the chimney and allow air to move
under the fire. By doing this you not only supercharge your fire but you also
help it draft smoke and fumes out the chimney instead of into your home. Sometimes
a smoking fireplace can be cured by the use of a grate.

Less work - Most fireplace grates have a front and back
that curl up. This helps to cradle your firewood to keep it in one location
and also helps to continuously force the wood to the middle of the grate. Instead
of having to move the wood around all the time you simply add more when needed.
This can help reduce hot embers from popping out and burning your floor as well.

Easier to light - Using a grate allows air to get under
the wood making the fire much easier to start.

Which fireplace grate is right for me?

There are three main types of fireplace grates, steel bar used for wood, cast
iron generally used for wood or coal, and grate heaters for wood which produce heat
back into the home. Coal cannot be used on the steel bar grates simply because the
bars are spread too far apart and the coal would fall through. Wood on the other
hand can be burned on a steel grate or a cast iron grate, however they have a tendency
to hold the embers on the grate blocking the air from reaching the wood. Cast iron
grates tend to last longer than the average steel bar grate with the exception of
very heavy steel bar grates. Grate heaters are tubular (hollow) grates that once
hot will blow warm or hot air back into the home. While not quite as efficient as
a fireplace insert they are about one forth the price and do a great job of pumping
heat into your home.

Lets start out by looking at the steel bar grate. Steel bar
grates are generally separated by the thickness of the bars used for constructing
the grate. The general rule of thumb is the thicker the bars the longer it will
last. The main things you want to look at are how often you plan on using the
fireplace and what type of wood you will be burning. Lets look at the different
users:

Rare - If this will be used on a rare
occasion only, holidays, birthdays, and special occasions then a lighter
duty grate will do just fine.

Frequent - If you are burning once a
month or more then a middle to high grade grate should be considered. Also
consider the type of wood, hardwoods like, Maple, Oak, Beachwood, etc. burn
hotter than softer woods adding stress to your grate. Thicker steel will
last longer.

Daily - If this is you then you probably
already know that you need the thickest, heaviest grate you can afford.
We now offer a Lifetime Grate for those who burn all the time.

Now lets take a look at the cast iron grate. Cast iron grates
have small gaps on the bottom to allow your coal or wood chunks to stay on the
grate longer burning more completely. The bottom line with cast iron is weight.
The heavier the grate the stronger. Again you can determine what is right for
you by the amount you plan on burning.

Rare - If this will be used on a rare
occasion only, holidays, birthdays, and special occasions then a lighter
duty grate will do just fine.

Frequent - If you are burning once a
month or more then a middle to high grade grate should be considered.

Daily - If this is you then you probably
already know that you need the thickest, heaviest grate you can afford.

Grate heaters are another alternative that we highly recommend.
While much more costly a grate heater can pay for itself quickly from the heat
it produces back into the room. There are various types of these heat exchangers
but the basic principle is the same.

Hollow tubing gets hot from the fire
and a fan blows heat through the hollow tubes into the room.

Some are thermostatically controlled
so the fan turns on and off automatically once the tubing gets hot.

Expect to Get 10,000 to 40,000 BTU's
of heat back into your home from these units which is enough to
heat a large room and other parts of the home.

How can I make my fireplace grate last?

The bottom line here is to start with a quality product. You
can get a grate at almost any store that sells fireplace equipment these days. The
problem is the construction and materials used are generally less than optimum.
You will find that with these grates you are lucky if they last you a season. Once
you replace one or two you go looking for something better. Below is a list of things
to watch out for:

Steel Bar Grates

Watch for poor welds where the top bars meet the legs. The
welds should be on the diagonals not on the flats. These welds are going to
be the most likely places for the grate to break.

Thin steel bars result in short life span, generally 1/2"
bars are used and for even the rare user they may not last long if you are burning
hardwoods. I always suggest upgrading to at least the 5/8" grate.

All grates are going to rust due to heat and moisture. A
good chimney cap may help to keep moisture out of the firebox. Our grates are
powder coated for initial protection but after several burns this will wear
down as well.

Last but not least the number of bars in relation to the
width are important. One less bar means less heat distribution meaning more
stress on the welds.

Cast Iron Grates

Weight, weight, weight, it's all about the weight. Weigh
the grates at you local hardware store and compare it to the weight of our grates
on line. The heavier the better.

As for design, it is really personal preference. No one style
is necessarily better than the other. Be aware some cast iron grates are now
being made to burn wood so watch for large gaps in the bottom if you are using
it to burn coal.

See our selection of over 90
fireplace grates! Choose from a variety of steel fireplace grates and cast iron
fireplace grates that are sure to make lighting fires in your fireplace a breeze
and keep your fireplace operating with efficiency throughout burning sessions.